Surface communication through a well tool enclosure

ABSTRACT

A well tool assembly residing outside of a well includes a power source component and a measurement component coupled to the power source component. A transmitter in a housing assembly of the well tool assembly is used to generate a transmission penetrating a wall of the housing assembly to an exterior of the well tool assembly.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This disclosure relates generally to hydrocarbon recovery operations, and specifically to surface communications through a well tool enclosure.

BACKGROUND

Well tools may be used in a variety of contexts during a hydrocarbon recovery operation. Certain types of tools can be conveyed into a borehole within a subterranean formation and suspended by wire or tubing. Example wires and tubing include wireline, slickline, monofilament wire, and braided wire rope. Other types of tools may be conveyed into the borehole by a drill string into which the well tool is coupled. Some tools, such as those conveyed by slickline, may include sensors, power sources, and other mechanisms that are sealed within separate housings. The housings may couple together to protect the internal mechanisms from the temperatures and pressures experienced in the well, but in doing so may block most high-frequency acoustic and/or electromagnetic waves. Accordingly, communicating with the components within the well tool may be difficult, particularly where the element by which the well tool will be conveyed into the borehole does not include a conductor.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example well tool at a well site in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example well tool in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIGS. 3A and 3B are block diagrams illustrating an example operation for transmitting from a well tool in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIGS. 4A and 4B are block diagrams illustrating an example operation of transmitting into a well tool in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Like reference symbols in the various drawings indicate like elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The concepts herein relate to communicating with wire or tubing conveyed well tool assemblies while outside of a well. The well tool assembly has provisions for transmitting, using a transmitter in the coupled housings of the well tool assembly components, communications through a wall of the housing assembly and to an exterior of the well tool assembly. The transmissions are of a type that can penetrate the wall of the housing.

FIG. 1 depicts a well site 100 with a well tool assembly 102, outside of a well 104, and coupled to a conveyance 106. In certain instances, the well site 100 is one where the well 104 is being drilled, completed, and/or treated. The well 104 can be a well used for recovery of hydrocarbons, such as oil and/or gas, from one or more subterranean zones of interest and/or for injection of fluids to one or more subterranean zones of interest.

The conveyance 106 will be used in lowering the well tool assembly 102 into the well 104 during operation of the well tool assembly 102. The conveyance 106 can be wireline, eline, slickline, braided wire rope and/or other type of wire; however, the concepts herein are particularly useful in types of wire that do not have provisions for transmission of power and/or communications with the well tool assembly 102. The conveyance 106 can be coiled tubing, drill string, jointed tubing and/or other type of tubing; however the concepts herein are particularly useful for tubing that does not have provisions for transmission of power and/or communications. In certain instances, the well tool assembly 102 is of a type that does not have onboard telemetry.

The well tool assembly 102 is made up of multiple components 108 coupled together. As shown in FIG. 2, the components 108 are housed in separate housings 110, where some housings can entirely contain one component and others can entirely contain multiple components. The housings 110 are sealingly coupled together (e.g., threadingly and/or otherwise) to define a sealed enclosure, i.e., exterior housing assembly 112 of the well tool assembly 102. The housings 110 define the exterior surface of the well tool assembly 102 and are designed to protect the internals of the well tool assembly components 108 from the temperatures and pressures experienced in the well. The housings 110 are typically (although not necessarily) metal.

The components 108 include a head 108 a that couples the well tool assembly 102 to the conveyance 106. The components 108 can also include a power source 108 b, such as a battery and/or other type of power source, that is coupled to one or more measurement components 108 c of the assembly to supply power to the measurement components 108 c. The measurement components 108 c are the components of the well tool assembly 102 that operate in performing the functions of the well tool assembly 102. While there are many examples of measurement components 108 c, some examples include sensor components such as for making fluid resistivity measurements, pressure measurements, temperature measurements, and other measurements. Some additional examples include sample collection components that can be operated to collect fluid samples from in the well. Further examples include pipe or cement evaluation components, including those that that have acoustic generators/receivers that generate and receive acoustic signals to evaluate the thickness of casing, liners and other pipe and bonds of cement. Many other examples exist. In certain instances, one or more of the measurement components 108 c includes a memory 126 to log information generated by the measurement components 108 c and/or store instructions used to operate the measurement components 108 c.

The well tool assembly 102 also includes an at-surface transceiver 114, configured as one or more separate stand-alone transmitters and stand-alone receivers or as one or more combined transmitter-receivers, in the housing assembly 112 and communicably coupled to one or more of the measurement components 108 c. In certain instances, only a transmitter or only a receiver can be provided, for example, for one way communication. The transceiver 114 is an at-surface transceiver in that it is configured to communicate while the well tool assembly 102 is at the surface, outside of the well. The transceiver 114 can be powered by the power source 108 b or from another power source. The transmitter aspect of the transceiver 114 can encode communications from the measurement components 108 c into a transmission. In certain instances, the communications include information about the operational status of the measurement components 108 c and/or other information. In one example, the communications include communications regarding status of the power source connection to the measurement component 108 c (e.g., has the connection been established and is the component receiving power) and a system diagnostic check. In another example, the communications include communications regarding the contents of a memory (e.g., a control plan) in a measurement component 108 c. Similarly, the receiver aspect of the transceiver 114 can decode a communication received from exterior of the well tool assembly 102. In one example, the communication can include a query or trigger to cause the transceiver 114 to reply back with specified information (e.g., status or system diagnostic). In another example, the communication can include a command to modify system parameters, such as those related to operation of a measurement component 108 c. In certain instances, the transceiver 114 can be triggered to send a predefined transmission, such as a power source connection status and/or a system diagnostic check, upon coupling of the power source component 108 b to the measurement components 108 c. The transceiver 114 includes a processor 122 coupled to a memory 124. The memory 124 includes instructions on a non-transient computer readable medium operable by the processor 122 to control the transceiver 114 in encoding and decoding communications and in interfacing with the measurement components 108 c.

The transceiver 114 produces a transmission that is directed into the wall of the housing 110, to penetrate through the material of the wall, to an exterior the well tool assembly 102. Multiple transmitters and/or receivers can be used, operating in the same transmission domain or different domains, to diversify the communication channel and create multiple paths. The transmission is in an acoustic, electromagnetic, thermal and/or other transmission domain with characteristics that enable the transmission to efficiently penetrate the wall of the housing 110 with low attenuation. In certain instances of an electromagnetic transmission, one or more of the housings 110 (or portions thereof) in the housing assembly 112 may be made from a non-magnetic material or electromagnetically saturated with a strong magnet to reduce interference caused by the housing 110 and increase bandwidth. In certain instances of an electromagnetic or acoustic transmission, the frequency of the transmission is 500 Hz or lower. In certain instances of an acoustic transmission, the frequency can be in a range that is audible to a human. The underlying communication can be encoded and optimized to be transmitted through the wall of the housing assembly and optimized for the domain of transmission. In certain instances, the transmission is encoded as an amplitude and/or frequency modulated signal with a low carrier frequency. In certain instances, the transmission is a pulsed signal, including Morse code and/or other type of pulsed signal.

The transceiver 114 can include the transmission generation components necessary to generate the transmission. For example, the transceiver 114 can include an acoustic transmission source such as a rotational, impact, piezoelectric and/or other source. In another example, the transceiver 114 can include an electromagnetic transmission source and/or receiver such as a dipole (e.g., wire antenna), magnetic dipole (e.g., induction coil), electrodes and/or other source or receiver. In certain instances, the electromagnetic receiver is a magnetometer. In yet another example, the transceiver 114 can include a thermal transmission source such as a stationary or moving resistor and/or other thermal source. In certain instances, the transceiver 114 can use an aspect of a measurement component 108 c to generate the transmission. For example, the transceiver 114 may use the electromagnetic components of the fluid resistivity measurement component to generate (and/or receive) an electromagnetic transmission. In another example the transceiver 114 may use the acoustic components of a pipe or cement evaluation component to generate (and/or receive) an acoustic transmission. In another example the thermal source can be part of another component or part of the memory system. In certain instances, the transceiver 114 can use an aspect of a measurement component 108 c to receive transmissions from outside of the well tool assembly 102.

An external unit 116 with a transceiver 118, or just a receiver, can be provided, external to the well tool assembly 102, to communicate with the transceiver 114 of the well tool assembly 102. In certain instances, the transceiver 114 of the well tool assembly 102 produces a transmission that requires the external unit 116 to be placed against the outer surface of the housing assembly 112 to receive the transmission. In certain instances, the transceiver 114 of the well tool assembly 102 produces transmissions that can propagate outward from the housing assembly 112, through the air, a short distance and the external unit 116 can receive the transmissions without direct contact to the housing assembly 112. For example, an electromagnetic transmission could readily be received a short distance from the housing assembly 112. The external unit 116 decodes the transmission and communicates the communication to a user, for example, by a display 120, an audible sound and/or in another manner. Similarly, the external unit 116 can generate a transmission to the transceiver 114 in the well tool assembly 102, for example, as discussed above.

Alternately, the transceiver 114 of the well tool assembly 102 produces transmissions that manifest as tactile or audible transmissions on the exterior of the housing assembly 112. For example, the transceiver 114 can produce acoustic or thermal transmissions with characteristics that allow the transmissions to be felt and interpreted by a user touching the housing assembly 112. In one example of an acoustic transmission, the transmission can be one or a series of taps that can be felt on the exterior of the housing assembly 112. The communication can be encoded in the number and/or duration of taps (e.g., Morse code). In one example of a thermal transmission, the transmission can be a stationary or moving hotspot that develops on the exterior the housing assembly 112. The location of the hotspot and/or whether it is stationary or moving can communicate different information, and the communication appropriately encoded. The transceiver 114 of the well tool assembly 102 can be tuned to receive tactile communications, for example, produced by a user tapping on the exterior of the housing assembly 112.

Referring to FIGS. 3A and 3B, the components 108 of the well tool assembly 102 are coupled together at the surface, outside of the well. If so configured, upon coupling the power source component 108 b to the measurement components 108 c, at operation 302, a communication from inside the well tool assembly 102 is automatically generated. Alternately, the transceiver 114 readies to a receiving state and listens for a transmission from an exterior of the well tool assembly 102 to prompt the transceiver 114 to react. Upon receipt of the transmission, at operation 302, the communication from inside the well tool assembly 102 is generated. In certain instances, the transmission into the well tool assembly 102 can be generated by an external unit 116 and/or the transmission into the well tool assembly 102 can be generated by a user, for example, tapping on the exterior of the housing assembly 112.

At operation 304, the communication is encoded and the transceiver 114 generates a transmission that penetrates through the wall of the housing assembly 112 to an exterior of the well tool assembly 102. As noted above, the encoding and/or the domain of the transmission can be optimized to penetrate through the wall of the housing assembly 112. Depending on the type of transmission, it may be necessary to place an external unit 116 against or near the well tool assembly 102 to receive the transmission (operation 306 b) and decode the transmission and display it to a user (operation 308). If the transmission is in an audible or tactile form, the user can listen for or touch the housing assembly 112 to receive the transmission (operation 306 b) and decode it themselves (operation 308 b).

In certain instances, and depending on the configuration of the transceiver 114, a communication is encoded and a transmission into the well tool assembly 102 generated by the external unit 116 (FIG. 4A, operation 402 a) and/or the communication can be encoded and the transmission into the well tool assembly 102 generated by a user, for example, tapping on the exterior of the housing assembly 112 (FIG. 4B, operation 402 b). At operation 404, the transceiver 114 in the well tool assembly 102 receives the transmission and decodes it. As discussed above, the transmission into the well tool assembly 102 can be as simple as a command to prompt the transceiver 114 to reply with predefined information or the transmission into the well tool assembly 102 can inform the transceiver 114 what information to reply with.

In view of the above, it follows that certain aspects encompass a method of operating a well tool assembly residing outside of a well. The well tool assembly includes a power source component and a measurement component coupled to the power source component. A transmitter in a housing assembly of the well tool assembly is used to transmit, a communication penetrating a wall of the housing assembly to an exterior of the well tool assembly.

Certain aspects encompass a well tool assembly having a power source component and a measurement component coupled to the power source component. A housing assembly encloses the power source component and the measurement component. An at surface transmitter resides in the housing assembly to produce, while the well tool assembly is outside of a well, a transmission that penetrates a wall of the housing assembly to an exterior of the well tool assembly.

Certain aspects encompass a system with a well tool assembly that has one or more measurement components in a housing assembly. A transmitter in the housing assembly is coupled to the measurement components. The transmitter produces a transmission that penetrates a wall of the housing assembly.

The features above can include some, none or all of the following features. In certain instances, transmitting a communication includes transmitting a communication after the measurement component is coupled to the power source component. The communication is a communication regarding status of the power source to measurement component coupling. In certain instances, a second communication is transmitted, penetrating the wall of the housing assembly to an exterior of the well tool assembly. The second communication is a communication regarding contents of a memory in the housing assembly.

In certain instances a transmission representing the communication is generated using the measurement component. For example, the transmission is generated using an electromagnetic transmitter of a fluid resistivity measurement measurement component or operating an acoustic transmitter of a pipe or cement evaluation measurement component.

In certain instances, the communication penetrating a wall of the housing assembly to an exterior of the well tool assembly is an acoustic, electromagnetic, or thermal transmission. In certain instances, the communication is a tactile transmission that can be felt by a person touching the exterior of the well tool assembly.

A receiver exterior of the well tool assembly can be used to receive the communication and display information in a visual form based on the communication. Similarly, a receiver in the housing assembly can receive a transmission from exterior the well tool assembly after the transmission has penetrated the wall of the housing assembly. The transmission from exterior the well tool assembly can be generated using an external transmitter unit or can be generated by tapping on the wall of the housing assembly.

A number of embodiments have been described. Nevertheless, it will be understood that various modifications may be made. Accordingly, other embodiments are within the scope of the following claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A method, comprising: with a well tool assembly residing outside of a well, the well tool assembly comprising a power source component and a measurement component coupled to the power source component, transmitting, using a transmitter in an external housing assembly of the well tool assembly, a status communication penetrating a wall of the external housing assembly to an exterior of the well tool assembly, the status communication regarding a status of the measurement component.
 2. The method of claim 1, where transmitting the status communication comprises transmitting a status communication after the measurement component is coupled to the power source component, the status communication regarding status of the power source to measurement component coupling.
 3. The method of claim 2, comprising transmitting a second communication penetrating the wall of the external housing assembly to an exterior of the well tool assembly, the second communication regarding contents of a memory in the housing assembly.
 4. The method of claim 1, where transmitting the status communication penetrating the wall of the external housing assembly comprises generating a transmission representing the communication using the measurement component.
 5. The method of claim 4, where generating the transmission representing the communication using the measurement component comprises generating a transmission representing the communication using at least one of an electromagnetic transmitter of a fluid resistivity measurement device or an acoustic transmitter of a pipe or cement evaluation device.
 6. The method of claim 1, where transmitting the status communication through the wall of the external housing assembly comprises transmitting an acoustic, electromagnetic, or thermal communication signal.
 7. The method of claim 1, where transmitting the status communication through the wall of the external housing assembly comprises transmitting a tactile communication signal.
 8. The method of claim 1, comprising: receiving the communication at a receiver outside of the well; and displaying information in a visual form based on the communication.
 9. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving at a receiver within the exterior housing assembly of the well tool a transmission from exterior of the well tool assembly having penetrated the wall of the housing assembly.
 10. The method of claim 9, comprising generating the transmission from exterior of the well tool assembly using an external transmitter unit.
 11. The method of claim 9, comprising generating the transmission from exterior of the well tool assembly by tapping on the wall of the housing assembly.
 12. A well tool assembly, comprising: a power source; a measurement component coupled to the power source; a sealed housing assembly enclosing the power source and the measurement component; and an at-surface transmitter in the housing assembly that produces, while the well tool assembly is outside of a well, a transmission that penetrates a wall of the housing assembly to an exterior of the well tool assembly.
 13. The well tool assembly of claim 12, comprising a receiver in the housing assembly, the receiver tuned to receive a transmission generated by tapping on the housing assembly.
 14. The well tool assembly of claim 12, where the transmitter is coupled to the measurement component to use an aspect of the measurement component in generating the transmission.
 15. The well tool assembly of claim 12, where the transmitter generates a transmission in the form of tapping on the sealed housing or a thermal signal.
 16. The well tool assembly of claim 12, where well tool assembly is a wire conveyed well tool assembly.
 17. A system, comprising: a well tool assembly comprising one or more measurement components in a housing assembly; and a transmitter in the housing assembly coupled to the measurement components, the transmitter being of a type that produces a transmission that penetrates a wall of the housing assembly.
 18. The system of claim 17, comprising a receiver in the housing assembly tuned to receive a transmission from exterior the housing assembly that penetrates the housing assembly.
 19. The system of claim 17, where the transmitter is coupled to a measurement component to use the component in generating the transmission. 